Sudan's war economy leans on gold mining amid humanitarian crisis

Gold mining has become Sudan's primary source of foreign currency after the loss of oil revenues following South Sudan's secession. Official figures show production rose to 70 tons in 2025, generating about US$1.8 billion and accounting for roughly 70 % of national revenue. United Nations experts estimate that over half of this gold is smuggled out of the country to finance the Rapid Support Forces, who dominate gold‑rich areas in Darfur and Kordofan.

Artisanal miners work without safety standards, using mercury to extract gold and facing frequent mine collapses that have killed dozens. Displaced people, forced from homes by a conflict that has killed at least 59,000 and displaced over 10 million, turn to mining for survival. “Gold mining is the only thing I can rely on,” said 28‑year‑old miner Atta al‑Khazin, who left farming. Veteran miner Zahir Adam added that many families have “no other option.” The sector’s growth fuels both the war and the humanitarian disaster across Sudan.